Improvement in apparatus for preparing surgical bandages



" UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE,

FRANK GREEN, OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR-PREPARING SURGICAL BANDAGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 196,892, dated November6, 1877; application filed A April 30, 1877.

line a: as, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish for medical practitioners,hospitals, &c., an improved apparatus by which plaster-of-paris orsoluble-glass bandages, for fractured limbs and other surgical cases,may be prepared with ease and rapidity, the machine having the advantagethat it spreads the plaster or applies the soluble glass at the sametime with the winding of the bandage, so as to save time and material,and facilitate the preparation of such bandages.

The invention consists of a box with guide, tension, and windingvdevices, used in connection with a hopperfor the plaster-of-paris,having slides to regulate width and thickness of plaster to be spread,and to cut off the supply of the same when the bandage is nearlycovered. The box has also a tank to apply soluble glass to the bandage.

In the drawing, Arepresents a box, of tin-or other material, in whichthe different parts of my apparatus are arranged, so as to beconveniently stored away after use.

The receiving-hopper B for' the plaster-ofparis is placed by bottomseats a on a lateral partition, A, of the box, and the hand-crank roller0 placed into suitable bearings b of the box. The hopper B is providedwith three slides-a top slide, B, for opening and closing the same forputting in the plaster-of-paris, a vertical end slide, B", thatregulates the thick:

ness of the material to be laid on the bandage, and a horizontalcut-ofl' slide, B at such distance from the bottom that, when thebandage approaches its end and the cut-off slide is pushed to close thesupply of plaster-of-paris from the hopper, a suflicient quantityof thesame is left in the space below the slide B to coat the'end of thebandage.

The hopper B is provided with a front'slot, -d, near the bottom for theentrance of the bandage, and with a rear slot, d, for the exit of thebandage, the rear slot (1 being opened more or less by the verticalslide B", according to the thickness of the plaster-of-paris ayer.

A fourth slide, B moves laterally in outer guides e of the hopper, andin a guide-slit, e, of the box, so as to close partially or entirely theexit-slot d, and be adjusted to the width of the bandage to be coated.

The bandage passes along a guide-Wire, f, at one end of the box, thewire having a mov- -able gage or guide pin, f that is inserted'intoholes f of the box, so as to be set to the different widths of bandages.The bandage is passed from the guide-wire below tension rods or rollersg, and over a rod or roller, 9, at a level with the bottom of thehopper, through the slots of the hopper to the crank G at the oppositeside of the same, the crank pulling the bandage slowly through thehopper, so as to be simultaneously coated and wound up on thecrank'ready for use.

The. section of box A betweenthe partition and the guide end is providedwith a detachable tank, A and with bearings for the crank C, so as touse this part for the purpose of saturatin g the bandage withsoluble-glass (silicate of soda) or other solution, that is placed intothe tank, the bandage being passed from the guide-wire under thetension-rods and.

over the upper rod onto the winding-crank roller, placed in position inthe holes or bearings of the tank-section. When the process iscompleted, the tank is removed and cleaned. The running out of any fluidof the crankbearing is prevented by suitable packings of the same.

The apparatus may be also used for simply winding up a bandage, in'whichcase the hopper is removed, and the crank placed in position at theother side of the partition, the guide adjusted to the bandage, and thenwound up on the crank in similar manner as before described for layingon a coat of plaster-of-paris. The bandage is easily removed by implyturning the crank back once or twice.

Themachine admits thewindin g of the bandage and spreading of theplaster-of-paris, or the winding and applying of the soluble glass atthe same time, admitting the preparation of such bandages used insurgical cases with great facility, and without the inconveniencesattending the making of these'bandages at present.

After use the parts are stored away again in the box, to be used at anyother time, the entire apparatus being of compact shape, and verysatisfactory, expeditious, and handy for preparing bandages.

Bypassing the cloth from a roll directly through and over the bottom ofhopper, the plaster is automatically spread with perfect uniformity, andat any preferred thickness.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Batent- 1. In combination with the supply-hopper havingbottom slots for the passage of the bandage, a vertically-sliding gagefor regulating the thickness of theplaster-of-paris,

substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with a supply-hopper for plaster-of-paris havingbottom slots for the passage of the bandage, of a regulating gage orslide at the exit-slot and a cut-off slide above the bottom,substantially in the manner set forth.

3. The combination of the plaster-ofparis hopper B, having guides 0 nearthe exit-slot, with a lateral slide, B to be adjusted to Width ofbandage, substantially as shown and described.

Witnesses:

B. I. BOONE, NV. S. HANRAIHAN.

FRANK GREEN.

